Knight of a Trillion Stars (11 page)

He casually let his arm stroke her backside as he sent her an enticing thought. The maid, overcome by anticipation, agreed with the incredibly handsome man before her. She would very much like to try that with him. Standing, Rejar put his arm around the girl and began leading her off to a chamber. Lorgin called after him.

“Rejar, we must leave shortly!”

Rejar turned back to his brother, grinning.
{Ten moments, Lorgin, just ten moments.
}

They passed Yaniff as the old man made his way back to the table. As he sat down, his ancient eyes followed the dark-haired man.

Yaniff sighed deeply. “He squanders himself.” He turned
back to the table. “Your brother is a great trial to me, Lorgin. It is a pity I am so fond of the lad.”

Lorgin grinned ruefully. “He has a certain way about him. Hopefully he will not be too long.”

Deana was mortified. “Your brother just went off with the waitress to…to…”

Lorgin raised his eyebrows. “Quite. Familiars have a sensuous nature. It is best to let them express it.”

“But your, what did you call her, your nextmother, surely she doesn’t…?”

“Of course not. She is mated. A state Rejar claims will never happen to him.”

Deana did not understand these people at all, and doubted she would in the time of her visit. The best she could do was nod at their strange behavior while observing it.

Rejar returned not very much later, still smoldering as he adjusted his cape.
{Shall we depart, then?
}

Lorgin took Rejar aside, whispering to him, “And where is that pretty maid you went off with?”

Rejar grinned like the satyr he was, carefully sending his thoughts only to his brother.
{I imagine it will take her some time to compose herself. Indeed, when I left her, I do not think she could speak her own name.
}

Lorgin laughed out loud. “You are incorrigible, brother.”

{And not the only Krue who has been called such. Shall I tell your new wife about the time you visited the sirens of Mayra? They still remember you fondly to this day. All twelve of them.
}

“Yaniff is right, you are a scamp!”

Lorgin discreetly looked over at Adeeann, who was engaged in conversation with the old mystic. He pointed a warning finger at his brother. “Not one word, or you will live to regret it.”

Rejar only smiled.

They continued on their journey, once again entering the seemingly never-ending tunnels.

Deana noted that they passed fewer and fewer travelers on the ‘road’, and assumed that they were now in the Wilderness Reaches that Lorgin had mentioned. The few scruffy travelers they came across gave them a wide berth. She suspected that the intimidating sight of Lorgin and Rejar was enough to dissuade any would-be attacker.

As they plodded along, she had plenty of opportunity to let her mind drift. Unfortunately, she had time now to recall when she had confessed to the “cat” that she thought Lorgin so sexy he could make her melt. Her faced flushed as she remembered her careless words.

But then, how could she have known she was talking to Lorgin’s brother!

Would he reveal to Lorgin what she had confided? That was an appalling thought. She turned and looked at Rejar, her face mirroring the embarrassment she felt. He winked at her, obviously realizing what had just occurred to her.

{I will say nothing, Adeeann. You need not worry.
}

She threw him a grateful look as she continued along the path, thinking back to the first time she had seen him in the cave. What a shock! The way he had sat up and stared at her, telepathically saying, “Good morrow…
my brother’s wife?
”

Yes, that was what he had said.

With all the excitement, she had forgotten his initial words to her. Deana stumbled over her feet. Lorgin quickly turned to help her. She viewed him with horror.

“Are you all right, Adeeann?”

“Y-yes. Yes, of course.” He looked inquiringly at her, then shrugged, and continued leading them through the tunnel.

Why had Rejar called her Lorgin’s wife? It was obvious that he had mistaken their relationship. Should she correct him? That might be rather embarrassing. Suppose
they were doing something against their strange customs? It could put Lorgin in a difficult position. Should she mention it to Lorgin?
Absolutely not.
Let the two of them work it out. She wasn’t about to stick her foot in her mouth.

The morning passed slowly as they continued to trudge along. Once, the tunnel widened, leading them into a magnificent cavern which had a massive, frozen waterfall. The temperature dropped significantly in this area. Lorgin motioned for Deana to come walk beside him so he could enfold her in the warmth of his cloak. He then used his power to form a slightly warmer current around them as they walked. Rejar disappeared around a column, reappearing in cat form, wisely deciding to let his thick fur protect him. Yaniff obviously could take care of himself.

Soon the temperature began to rise again, and they resumed their normal rank in file along the path, with Rejar once again walking on two legs. In the distance, Deana thought she heard the sound of rushing water intermingled with the sounds of people.

The tunnel eventually opened up onto a larger cavern, and sure enough there were several beings milling about the area. They looked like a seedy lot. Most appeared to be drinking something out of large animal horns. In the distance, Deana noted an underground river passing by the main body of the cave.

Lorgin led them to the bar, requesting food from the none-too-clean-looking alien behind the counter. He had a snoutlike nose and beady eyes. He rather reminded Deana of her ex-boss. The alien snorted at Lorgin, then spit a huge wad of slime onto the floor. Yep. Her ex-boss.

Lorgin reached into his cape, then turned his hand over onto the counter, spilling out several gemstones. The alien snorted again, quickly snatching up the gems. He shoved a platter at Lorgin, along with four horns of liquid.

It didn’t seem to Deana that Lorgin had really gotten his money’s worth, considering the fortune of gems he had thrown down. But since she had no idea what anything was worth here, who was she to judge? She had no trouble judging the quality of food before her, even though she was no gourmet, especially in this cuisine. She gave the platter a wary eye.

Lorgin encouraged Deana to eat.

“I don’t think so. It looks like it’s been hanging around here awhile.” She took a sip of the drink, surprised to find it delightfully refreshing.

Lorgin eyed the food, then shoved it away. “Perhaps you are right. I think I will stick to the
keeran.
” Yaniff and Rejar concurred.

So they drank
keeran.

Deana was starting to feel much better. She didn’t even feel tired anymore. Yaniff was securing a boat for the remainder of their journey to the healer’s house, and Rejar had gone off somewhere with a set of giggling twins.

Deana took a large swallow of the brew, remembering how Rejar had a possessive palm firmly planted on each shapely bottom while he smoothly led the breathless women away. She turned to Lorgin.

“Your brother has the morals of an alley cat.” Her eyes widened as she realized her unintentional pun. She started giggling, then surprised herself by hiccuping.

Lorgin looked down at her, amused. “Adeeann, you have not had
keeran
before. I should have remembered that.”

She looked at him and giggled some more.

“I think you have had enough for now,
zira.
” He tried to take the horn away from her. She was not about to give it up.

As they were wrestling with the horn, Deana felt something snake around her upper thigh. Looking down, she noted it was a tentacle belonging to the purple guy standing
next to her. He looked at her and grinned, revealing several sharply pointed teeth.

The intergalactic geek was trying to hit on her!
It was too much! She broke into uncontrollable laughter.

Lorgin had finally wrested the keeran from her, now noticing that a Seckla had her in an embrace. He spoke to the alien in his own language, “Remove your touch from my woman at once.”

The Seckla answered, “I have no reason to.” He snickered at Deana’s laughter. “The woman obviously enjoys my touch.”

Lorgin, having given what he considered adequate warning, whipped out his light saber. “I will give you a reason.” He neatly sliced through the tentacle, severing it from the Seckla in an instant.

The barroom became very quiet, eagerly awaiting the Seckla’s reaction. He gazed carefully at Lorgin for a long tension-fraught moment, sizing up the opponent. Then he abruptly bowed to the blond man, quickly leaving the cavern. The noise level resumed as if nothing had happened.

Deana, in her fuzzy state, was not sure what had occurred until she looked down to see the severed limb slide off her leg. She stared at Lorgin horrified.

“You—you cut his arm off!” She started swaying toward him.

Lorgin was clearly irritated. “Do not be so upset, Adeeann; it is not as if he will not grow another.”

Her surprised look was cut off as she passed out in his arms.

She came to in the boat to the sight of the cavern ceiling rapidly whizzing by.

It took her a few moments to realize that they were the ones moving, not the ceiling. She had a horrendous
headache. Sitting up, she clutched her forehead, groaning. Yaniff crouched down beside her, sticking a cup of brew under her nose. The strange substance hissed and bubbled.

“Drink this, child. It will clear your head.”

She warily took the cup from him, grimacing at the thick, smelly liquid. “Definitely not hair of the dog. What’s in it—eye of newt?”

Yaniff smiled slightly. “Toe of dog is the accepted remedy.”

Deana wasn’t altogether sure he was joking. Her head hurt too much to worry about it. Holding her nose, she downed the concoction.

As her head began to clear, she noted Lorgin and Rejar at opposite ends of the boat, steering through the fastmoving water by the use of long poles. The underground river carried them swiftly along, causing the men to make quick sudden adjustments with the poles to prevent the currents from careening the boat into the rock structures they passed. The cave walls sped by at dizzying speeds as they were hurled forward by the powerful currents. It was a task that required utmost concentration, so Deana thought it prudent not to talk to either of the brothers.

After what seemed like hours, she quietly asked Yaniff when they would reach their destination. Unbelievably, the old man was snoring! How he could sleep through this whirling maelstrom was beyond her. Even that weird bird thing on his shoulder seemed to be snoozing.

Yaniff opened one eye. “His name is Bojo and when you have lived as long as I have, child, you develop the virtue of being able to sleep through anything.”

Deana looked sheepish. “You can read my mind. I thought you might have that ability.”

Yaniff stretched, causing several old bones to creak. “Does it bother you?”

“I thought it might, but it doesn’t. I think it’s because you’re so nonthreatening.”

Lorgin snorted from the bow of the boat, having overheard their conversation. “No one in fifty quadrants with a micron of sanity would believe Yaniff nonthreatening.”

{Half the universe quakes in fear at the very mention of his name.
} This from the back of the boat.

Yaniff patted her hand in a comforting gesture. “If the child wishes to view me as a kindly oldfather, I have no objection.”

Lorgin shook his head as he pushed the pole against a passing boulder. “Yaniff, you are beginning to worry me.”

Yaniff grinned wickedly before sending out a small bolt of lightning, hitting Lorgin squarely on the backside. Lorgin jumped, turning a fulminating glare on the old man.

Yaniff calmly replied, “I would not want to be the cause of too much worrying for you, Lorgin ta’al Krue.”

Rejar’s rich, sultry laughter rang out across the water.

“The passage is coming up, Lorgin. It is a small tributary branch to the right. Do not overshoot the entrance lest our journey become much more difficult.” Yaniff leaned on his staff, peering ahead in the cavern.

Lorgin nodded. “I will not miss it, Yaniff.”

Suddenly the tributary was upon them. Deana thought they would surely overshoot it as the raging river carried them forward.

“There.” Yaniff pointed, but Lorgin was already turning the boat, using the pole to gain leverage. His arm muscles bulging, he displayed an incredible amount of strength as he battled the pull of the water, successfully bringing them away from the main current of the river and into this small, relatively calm waterway.

They traveled up the little canal for a ways, both Lorgin and Rejar now using the poles to push the boat forward in the calm water. Soon they approached a small mooring area, where a few other boats were secured.

Deana scanned the plaza of the small outpost, noting a few traders, travelers, and locals milling about. Though rural, this outpost did not seem as lawless as the others they had passed through. She mentioned this to Yaniff as the men secured the boat.

“You are right. We can all rest a little easier here.” His eyes landed on Lorgin. “Since this pod has the only healer in the Reaches, it is generally acknowledged as a safe zone, respected by citizen and outlaw alike. Anyone may come here for treatment without fear of being victimized.” Yaniff stroked his chin. “Surprisingly, it is the criminal element which ensures this.”

“Probably because they so often need treatment.” Lorgin had come up beside them, adding his wry thoughts to the subject. He took Deana’s hand in his own, leading her down the main esplanade. “There are exceptions to this unwritten attitude. I still want you to stay near me at all times.”

“I hear and I obey, mastah!” Deana began walking like a zombie.

Lorgin raised an eyebrow. “I like these words you speak, but what are you doing?”

“I am a mindless zombie, who only lives for the sound of your command,” Deana responded in a low monotone voice, suitable for the walking dead.

Lorgin had no idea what a zombie was, but he knew when he was being mocked. He scratched his chin as if deep in thought. “I am very surprised.”